Lady Violet's Zingers

From BT Vision : Dame Maggie Smith’s best Downton Abbey zingers

1. Lady Grantham meets kindly Isobel Crawley for the first time

Mrs Crawley: “What should we call each other?
Lady Grantham: “Well, we could always start with Mrs Crawley and Lady Grantham.”

2. Lady Sybil has attended a political meeting, and Lady Grantham isn’t very impressed

Lady Mary: “Sybil is entitled to her opinions.”
Lady Grantham: “No. She isn’t until she is married, then her husband will tell her what her opinions are." 

3. Lady Grantham shoots the breeze with her nemesis Isobel Crawley

Lady Grantham: “You are quite wonderful the way you see room for improvement wherever you look. I never knew such reforming zeal."
Mrs Crawley: “I take that as a compliment.
Lady Grantham: “I must have said it wrong.”

4. Lady Grantham sticks a boot into “the help”

Lord Grantham: “We'd better go in soon or it isn’t fair to Mrs Patmore.”
Lady Grantham: “Oh, is her cooking so precisely timed? You couldn’t tell.”

5. Lady Grantham sums up her relationship with her American daughter-in-law

Cora: “Are we to be friends then?”
Lady Grantham: “We are allies, my dear, which can be a good deal more effective.”

6. Lady Grantham confirms suspicions about the questionable upper class work ethic

Lady Grantham: “What is a weekend?”

7. Lady Grantham and Cora spot Downton heir Matthew’s new fiancée

Lady Grantham: “So, that’s Mary’s replacement. Well, I suppose looks aren’t everything.” 
Cora: “I think she seems rather sweet. I’m afraid meeting us all together must be very intimidating.”
Lady Grantham: “I do hope so.”